Antibacterial activity of disulfiram and its metabolites.

AIMS: Disulfiram (Antabuse™) and its metabolites formed in vivo were evaluated as antibacterial agents against thirty species of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The synergistic potential of disulfiram (DSF) and metabolite diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) with approved antibiotics were also compared by isobologram (checkerboard) analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Standard microdilution susceptibility testing showed that most DSF metabolites did not possess appreciable antibacterial activity except for DDTC in Bacillus anthracis. Checkerboard studies revealed similarities between the combination drug effects of DSF and DDTC with standard antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded from the susceptibility data that the metabolites would not extend the antibacterial spectrum of DSF in vivo. The data also suggest that the DDTC by-product of DSF metabolism potentiates the antibacterial activity of DSF as both a standalone and combination agent. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study provides a greater understanding of the antibacterial effects of Antabuse and its metabolites. This research also demonstrates the potential application of DSF as an antibiotic adjuvant for the treatment of resistant staph infections.

Controlled release of α-tocopherol, quercetin, and their cyclodextrin inclusion complexes from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) films into a coconut oil model food system.

Polymer additive migration into a food product is dependent upon numerous factors including the original concentration of the additive in the polymer, its solubility in the food, its diffusion coefficient in the polymer, its partition coefficient between the polymer and food, temperature, and time. The limited solubility of quercetin in linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) did not allow release from the film due to phase segregation of the quercetin in the bulk polymer. Increasing the molecular weight of α-tocopherol by ß-cyclodextrin inclusion complexation can greatly reduce its diffusion coefficient in LLDPE. Ziegler-Natta and metallocene LLDPE contain different crystalline structure morphologies and diffusion path networking arrangements that allow for differences in additive release rates. Effective controlled-release packaging should combine ß-cyclodextrin complexation of additives and polymer morphology control to target delivery of an optimal antioxidant concentration to achieve prolonged activity, resulting in extended shelf life foods.

Genetic parameters for various random regression models to describe total sperm cells per ejaculate over the reproductive lifetime of boars.

The objective of this study was to model the variances and covariances of total sperm cells per ejaculate (TSC) over the reproductive lifetime of AI boars. Data from boars (n = 834) selected for AI were provided by Smithfield Premium Genetics. The total numbers of records and animals were 19,629 and 1,736, respectively. Parameters were estimated for TSC by age of boar classification with a random regression model using the Simplex method and DxMRR procedures. The model included breed, collector, and year-season as fixed effects. Random effects were additive genetic, permanent environmental effect of boar, and residual. Observations were removed when the number of data at a given age of boar classification was < 10 records. Preliminary evaluations showed the best fit with fifth-order polynomials, indicating that the best model would have fifth-order fixed regression and fifth-order random regressions for animal and permanent environmental effects. Random regression models were fitted to evaluate all combinations of first- through seventh-order polynomial covariance functions. Goodness of fit for the models was tested using Akaike's Information Criterion and the Schwarz Criterion. The maximum log likelihood value was observed for sixth-, fifth-, and seventh-order polynomials for fixed, additive genetic, and permanent environmental effects, respectively. However, the best fit as determined by Akaike's Information Criterion and the Schwarz Criterion was by fitting sixth-, fourth-, and seventh-order polynomials; and fourth-, second-, and seventh-order polynomials for fixed, additive genetic, and permanent environmental effects, respectively. Heritability estimates for TSC ranged from 0.27 to 0.48 across age of boar classifications. In addition, heritability for TSC tended to increase with age of boar classification.

Effect of antioxidant (alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid) fortification on light-induced flavor of milk.

The effectiveness of added antioxidants against oxidation off-flavor development in light-exposed milk was evaluated using sensory and chemical analysis. Sensory testing for similarity showed no perceivable difference between control milk and milk with added (1) 0.05% alpha-tocopherol (TOC) and (2) 0.025% alpha-tocopherol and 0.025% ascorbic acid (TOC/ASC), but did demonstrate a perceivable difference when adding (3) 0.05% ascorbic acid (ASC) alone. Subsequently, sensory testing for difference showed a significant difference in oxidation off-flavor between light-exposed control milk and light-exposed milk with added TOC/ASC, whereas milk fortified with TOC was not different from control. Gas chromatography-olfactometry showed that more aroma-active flavor compounds were observed in light-exposed milk treated with TOC and TOC/ASC than light-exposed milk with no added antioxidants. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) test verified chemically the extent of oxidation in control and antioxidant-treated milk samples. Milk that was exposed to light for 10 h showed a significantly higher TBARS value (0.92 +/- 0.09 mg/kg) than milk that was protected from light (0.59 +/- 0.184 mg/kg), or milk that was treated with TOC/ASC (0.26 +/- 0.092 mg/kg). Direct addition of low levels of antioxidants (TOC/ASC) to milk protected its flavor over 10 h of light exposed storage.

Aroma analysis of light-exposed milk stored with and without natural and synthetic antioxidants.

The effect of antioxidants, added in a single initial dose or in weekly additions to extended shelf life milk, was evaluated over 6 wk of lighted storage at 4 degrees C. Light-induced oxidation was measured by determining pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, and 1-octen-3-ol contents. Weekly addition of a combination of butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene (100 mg/kg of milk fat, each) maintained heptanal content of milk at levels comparable to light-protected milk, whereas an initial single addition of alpha-tocopherol significantly decreased hexanal content over the first 4 wk of storage. Odor-active compounds associated with light-induced oxidation included 2,3-butanedione, pentanal, dimethyl disulfide, hexanal, 1-hexanol, heptanal, 1-heptanol, and nonanal. The addition of butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene in a single initial addition resulted in decreases in pentanal and hexanal odor, but not in heptanal and 1-heptanol odor, whereas the addition of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbyl palmitate decreased pentanal and heptanol odor, but not hexanal and heptanal odor.

Effectiveness of poly(ethylene terephthalate) and high-density polyethylene in protection of milk flavor.

The development of certain off-flavors in whole milk (3.25% milk fat) as related to packaging material [glass, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), amber poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETE), clear PETE, and clear PETE-UV] were evaluated after exposure to fluorescent light (1100 to 1300 lx) for 18 d at 4 degrees C. Control samples packaged and stored under identical conditions were wrapped in foil to prevent light exposure. Selected flavor compounds in milk were measured analytically on d 0, 7, 14, and 18 of storage, while intensities of "oxidation," "acetaldehyde," and "lacks freshness" off-flavors were determined by sensory analysis at the same intervals. In light-exposed samples, oxidation off-flavor was significantly lower when packaged in amber PETE versus other containers. Milk packaged in HDPE containers showed a significantly higher level of oxidation off-flavor than milk packaged in PETE-UV containers but not higher than clear PETE or glass containers. No significant difference in acetaldehyde off-flavor was found between package material treatments (exposed or protected). Acetaldehyde concentration never exceeded flavor threshold levels, regardless of packaging material. Amber and PETE-UV materials proved to be a competitive packaging choice for milk in preserving fresh milk flavor.

Flavor threshold for acetaldehyde in milk, chocolate milk, and spring water using solid phase microextraction gas chromatography for quantification.

The detection threshold of acetaldehyde was determined on whole, lowfat, and nonfat milks, chocolate-flavored milk, and spring water. Knowledge of the acetaldehyde threshold is important because acetaldehyde forms in milk during storage as a result of light oxidation. It is also a degradation product of poly(ethylene terephthalate) during melt processing, a relatively new packaging choice for milk and water. There was no significant difference in the acetaldehyde threshold in milk of various fat contents, with thresholds ranging from 3939 to 4040 ppb. Chocolate-flavored milk and spring water showed thresholds of 10048 and 167 ppb, respectively, which compares favorably with previous studies. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) was verified as an effective method for the recovery of acetaldehyde in all media with detection levels as low as 200 and 20 ppb in milk and water, respectively, when using a polydimethyl siloxane/Carboxen SPME fiber in static headspace at 45 degrees C for 15 min.

Effect of gilt development diet on the reproductive performance of primiparous sows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of development diet on first-parity reproductive performance across different genetic types of females. Gilts (n = 708) 8 to 15 d of age from five genetic lines were assembled using a segregated early weaning protocol. Genetic types represented industry variation for reproductive capacity and lean growth potential. Sampling procedures were not designed to evaluate performance differences among the genetic lines. When the gilts weighed approximately 20 kg, they were moved from the nursery facilities to a slotted-floor, environmentally controlled facility, and seven to eight animals within a genetic type were penned together. When the gilts weighed approximately 40 kg, they were moved to a modified open-front facility. Nineteen gilts were allotted to each pen (.92 m2 per pig). Gilts were assigned to one of three development diets at 120 d of age. Diet 1 (high energy, 18% CP) and Diet 2 (high energy, 13% CP) were provided for ad libitum consumption to the assigned gilts until they weighed approximately 113 kg. Gilts receiving Diet 3 (23% CP) were fed 1.8 kg/d from 82 kg until they reached 180 d of age (approximately 100 kg). Gilts were fed 2 kg daily of a gestation diet from 180 d to 200 d of age and 2.7 kg daily from 200 d until mating. To stimulate the estrus cycle, gilts were commingled and exposed to vasectomized boars beginning at 180 d of age. Gilts that were in estrus and 210 d of age or older were artificially inseminated with commercial semen. Gilts not detected in estrus within the first 50 d of observation were injected with PG600 and estrus detection continued for 30 additional days. Of the 657 gilts entering breeding pens, 422 farrowed. Bred gilts were distributed to 10 cooperator facilities before farrowing. Mixed model procedures were used to analyze the data. Significant (P < .05) genetic type x gilt development diet interactions were found for number of pigs born, number of pigs born alive, total litter birth weight, and litter birth weight of pigs born alive. Significant interactions consistently involved one genetic line and gilt development Diets 1 and 2. Gilts from this genetic line-diet subclass had poorer farrowing performance (P < .05) than gilts from the same line fed development Diet 3. Only two other significant genetic line x gilt development diet interactions were found. Gilt development diet had little influence on first-parity reproductive performance.

Carbohydrate/monomer complexes in aqueous polymerizations: methylated-beta-cyclodextrin mediated aqueous polymerization of hydrophobic methacrylic monomers.

Hydrophobic methacrylic monomers were polymerized in aqueous media using methylated (1.8)-beta-cyclodextrin (MeCD) additives. Hydrophobic monomers tert-butyl methacrylate (tBuMA), cyclohexyl methacrylate (CMA), and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (2EHMA) were each dissolved in chloroform with MeCD. Chloroform was then evaporated to yield solid monomer/cyclodextrin complexes. Complexes were shown by 1H NMR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to have molar ratios of monomer to MeCD as high as 0.72/1.00. The water-soluble complexes were readily polymerized in aqueous media using free radical initiation. During polymerization, hydrophobic methacrylic polymers precipitated and the majority of MeCD remained in solution. Poly(alkyl methacrylates) synthesized via this method exhibited number-average molecular weights ranging from 50,000 to 150,000 with polydispersities from 3.2 to 5.5 depending on monomer structure, and isolated yields were as high as 86%. Additionally, corresponding methacrylic/carbohydrate films were prepared and examined. High molecular weight poly(tBuMA), poly(CMA), and poly(2EHMA) were blended with MeCD to produce optically clear films with as high as 20 wt % MeCD. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) characterization indicated that the glass transition temperatures of these novel carbohydrate blends were controllable over a 20 degrees C range depending on the relative concentration of each component.

Behavioral aspects of homonegativity.

The prevalence of anti-gay violence is a widespread problem calling for thorough study and effective solutions. Hudson and Ricketts (1980) viewed homonegativity as composed of cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects. Patel (1989) developed the Self Report of Behavior Scale (SBS) to measure respondents' previous negative behaviors toward gay individuals. Other research using this scale has yielded useful information, and further study is needed to refine the now-evolved scale (SBS-R). Participants in the present study were 264 college students who completed the SBS-R, the Crowne-Marlowe Social Desirability Scale (CMSDS) and Hudson and Ricketts' Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals (IAH). A factor analysis of the SBS-R yielded two factors: "avoidance behaviors" and "aggressive behaviors" toward gays. High internal consistency as well as construct validity for the SBS-R were found. This reliable and valid measure of self-reported anti-gay behaviors should help advance our understanding of the relationships among the affective, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of homonegativity.

Pseudoaneurysm of the right lingual artery: an unusual cause of severe hemorrhage during tonsillectomy.

Profuse intraoperative hemorrhage is an uncommon complication of tonsillectomy. We present a three-year-old girl who underwent a routine adenotonsillectomy during which massive bleeding occurred from a large vessel in the right tonsillar fossae. Angiography revealed an aberrant right lingual artery with a pseudoaneurysm. The right lingual artery was embolized with multiple coils and the bleeding was halted. The causes and treatment of extracranial carotid artery pseudoaneurysms are discussed.

Memory for parking location in large lots.

The recall of automobile parking location was assessed over five consecutive workdays. Completed data from 36 women and 19 men provided measures of accuracy and a survey of specific strategies. Analysis showed a significant recency effect with memory for the most recent parking locations being superior. Less variation in parking location and shorter distance from parking location to building entrance were associated with better recall. Contrary to prevalent belief, older subjects had more accurate recall. Older subjects parked closer to the entrance and used fewer spaces which were also located closer together. The most frequently reported strategy was "favorite location" which was used more often by older subjects. Whereas laboratory tasks show memory deficits with increasing age, some studies in the natural environment have exhibited less such decline; the current data showed an actual improvement. It may be that older people adopt and practice compensatory strategies in the natural environment while laboratory tasks give little opportunity for establishing or practicing such devices.

Functional endonasal sinus surgery in adults and children.

Functional endonasal sinus surgery (FESS) is becoming the procedure of choice for the surgical treatment of chronic and recurrent sinusitis in adults and children. Retrospective analysis of the charts of 513 adult and 260 pediatric patients who underwent FESS after failing to respond to optimal medical treatment revealed an improvement rate of approximately 80% for both age groups. Although high response rates and low complication rates were found for both groups, there were significant differences in indications, preoperative evaluation, operative technique, and methods of postoperative follow-up for children.

Revision functional endonasal sinus surgery.

Revision functional endonasal sinus surgery (FESS) is recommended for patients whose symptoms of chronic or recurrent sinusitis persist despite primary FESS, long-term maximal medical therapy, and no sign of other abnormalities as demonstrated by computed tomography. After analyzing the charts of 673 patients who underwent primary FESS, we reviewed the 63 cases of revision surgery performed between 1986 and 1989. This retrospective analysis presents the management and outcome of 16 children (less than 16 years) and 47 adults who had revision FESS. The overall success rate of revision FESS was 78%, with no major complications, reflecting the improved management of sinus disease offered by this procedure.

Ventilation tubes and prophylactic antibiotic eardrops.

Insertion of ventilation tubes has successfully remedied chronic otitis media with effusion in millions of children, but the procedure has been complicated by secondary infections and otorrhea in as many as 34% of the cases. Because infection at the time of surgery was suspected as the primary cause of these postoperative complications, short-term prophylaxis with antibiotic eardrops was proposed for averting secondary infections. To evaluate this hypothesis, we conducted a 6-month prospective study in which 200 children had bilateral tube insertions. Antibiotic eardrops were administered to patients' right ears intraoperatively and for 3 days after surgery; left ears received no eardrops and served as controls. The prophylactic strategy did not significantly decrease the incidence of postoperative otorrhea in treated right ears compared with controls.

Direct responses to selection for increased litter size, decreased age at puberty, or random selection following selection for ovulation rate in swine.

Nine generations of selection for high ovulation rate were followed by two generations of random selection and then eight generations of selection for increased litter size at birth, decreased age at puberty, or continued random selection in the high ovulation rate line. A control line was maintained with random selection. Line means were regressed on generation number and on cumulative selection differentials to estimate responses to selection and realized heritabilities. Genetic parameters also were estimated by mixed-model procedures, and genetic trends were estimated with an animal model. Response to selection for ovulation rate was about 3.7 eggs. Response in litter size to selection for ovulation rate was .089 +/- .058 pigs per generation. Average differences between the high ovulation rate and control lines over generations 10 to 20 were 2.86 corpora lutea and .74 pigs (P less than .05). The regression estimate of total response to selection for litter size was 1.06 pigs per litter (P less than .01), and the realized heritability was .15 +/- .05. When the animal model was used, the estimate of response was .48 pigs per litter. Total response in litter size to selection for ovulation rate and then litter size was estimated to be 1.8 and 1.4 pigs by the two methods. Total response to selection for decreased age at puberty was estimated to be -15.7 d (P less than .01) when data were analyzed by regression (realized heritability of .25 +/- .05) and -17.1 d using the animal model. No changes in litter size occurred in the line selected for decreased age at puberty. Analyses by regression methods and mixed-model procedures gave similar estimates of responses and very similar estimates of heritabilities.

Effects of selection of data on estimates of breeding values by three methods for litter size, backfat, and average daily gain in swine.

Estimated breeding value was calculated based on individual phenotype (SP), an index of individual phenotype and full- and half-sib family averages (SI), or Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP). Traits considered were litter size (LS), backfat (BF), and ADG. Estimated breeding values were calculated using all data and after deletion of the poorest 5, 10, 15, or 20% of the records for BF and ADG, or 4.8, 8, 13, or 21% of the records for LS. When all data were used, expected genetic gain from BLUP was greater than for SP by 22, 7, and 31% and greater than for SI by 10, 4, and 21% for LS, BF, and ADG, respectively. Expected genetic gain was 4, 0, and 3% lower for LS, BF, and ADG, respectively, for selection on breeding values estimated by SI after the poorest 20% of the records were deleted compared with selection on estimates by SI using all the data. Genetic gain using BLUP on data with the poorest 20% of the records deleted was reduced by 5, 2, and 8% for LS, BF, and ADG, respectively, compared with genetic gain using BLUP on all the data. The advantage in genetic gain of BLUP, with 20% of the poorest records deleted, over SP was 15, 5, and 21% for LS, BF, and ADG, respectively. Although BLUP is affected to a greater degree by deletion of records than is SP or SI, selection of swine using BLUP on field data would improve response to selection over the use of SP or SI.

Comparison of methods of estimating variance components in pigs.

Components of variance due to average effects of genes (sigma 2g), environmental effects common to littermates (sigma 2c), and environmental effects peculiar to individual pigs (sigma 2e) were estimated (--) by the Pseudo Expectation Approach (PE). Data were litter size (LS), backfat (BF; centimeter) and ADG (kilograms/day) collected from the Nebraska Gene Pool swine population between 1967 and 1986. Mean square errors (MSE) for h--2 and c--2 (sigma--2g and sigma--2c divided by phenotypic variance) by PE and nested ANOVA and h2 estimated by offspring on parent regression (REGOP) were evaluated using simulation of 200 repetitions of the Nebraska Gene Pool population. Parameter values for sigma 2g, sigma 2c, and sigma 2e used in simulations were PE estimates from the Gene Pool population. Estimates of h2 from PE were .18 +/- .06 for LS, .56 +/- .06 for BF, and .16 +/- .05 for ADG. Estimates of c2 from PE were .01 +/- .03 for LS, .09 +/- .02 for BF, and .19 +/- .03 for ADG. Compared with REGOP, PE yielded h--2 with smaller MSE for BF and ADG and larger MSE for LS. The MSE of PE was smaller than the MSE of the nested ANOVA estimate for all estimates and traits. These results were interpreted to suggest that considerable gains in precision in estimation of genetic parameters could be achieved by accounting for all relationships in lieu of accounting for only half- and full-sib relationships or parent-offspring relationships.

Effects of errors in pedigree on three methods of estimating breeding value for litter size, backfat and average daily gain in swine.

Estimated breeding value (EBV) was calculated based on either individual phenotype (SP), an index of individual phenotype and full- and half-sib family averages (SI) or Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP). Calculations were done with correct data or data with 5, 10, 15 or 20% of the records per generation containing pedigree errors. Traits considered were litter size (LS), backfat (BF) and average daily gain (ADG). When data were correct, BLUP resulted in an advantage in expected genetic gain over SP of 22, 7.2 or 30.8% for LS, BF and ADG, respectively, and over SI of 9.6, 3.8 or 21.4%. When sire and dam pedigrees were incorrect for 20% of the pigs each generation, genetic gain using SI was reduced by 7, 2.5 or 6.5% and genetic gain using BLUP was reduced by 9.3, 3.2 or 12.4% for LS, BF and ADG, respectively. With 20% of the pedigrees in error, the advantages in genetic gain of using BLUP over SP, the method unaffected by errors in pedigree, were 10.5, 3.8 and 14.6% for LS, BF and ADG, respectively. These results suggest that, although BLUP is affected to a greater degree by pedigree errors than SP or SI, selection of swine using BLUP still would improve response to selection over the use of SP or SI.

Morbidity in pediatric tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations performed in the pediatric age group. Previous literature on morbidity in tonsillectomy has dealt predominantly with postoperative hemorrhage. Children undergoing tonsillectomy were divided in a prospective and random fashion into eight study groups to evaluate postoperative morbidity as it relates to the surgical technique used (electrocautery, dissection, KTP laser), methods of hemostasis (electrocautery, suture ligature), and the use of postoperative antibiotics. A total of 80 children were evaluated. Using the parameters of morbidity as defined in this study, blunt dissection tonsillectomy using suture ligatures for hemostasis, without postoperative antibiotics was found to result in the least morbidity in the pediatric age group.